The ceasefire forms a part of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan.

The six-point plan has gained unanimous international support barring China and Russia, which have repeatedly opposed UN-backed western intervention.

The FSA's announcement follows Assad’s defiant speech to parliament on Sunday. The Syrian leader blamed the ongoing violence on "foreign meddling" due to the government's support for resistance against Israel.

He also denied any government role in the Houla massacre in which suspected pro-regime gunmen killed 108 people, including 49 children and 34 women.